Impact Faces Miami Sunday at Saputo Stadium

June 5, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Montreal Impact News Release


MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact plays its 8th game of the regular season, Sunday at Saputo Stadium, versus Miami FC at 2pm (Radio-Canada, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).

The match is sold out. This marks the third time this season and second consecutive match where all 13,034 tickets at Saputo Stadium have been sold.

In Montreal's most recent regular season game, last Sunday, the Impact was shut out 2-0 by the Carolina RailHawks, at Saputo Stadium. That was Montreal's first home loss of the season and also ended a streak of five regular season games without a loss.

This past Wednesday, the Impact played an international friendly versus Italy's legendary Serie A club, AC Milan, in front of 47,861 fans at Olympic Stadium.

"Miami's a team that often gives us trouble at home," noted Simon Gatti, who should start Sunday's game as right midfielder. "They're a very technical team with a South American style. After the friendly against AC Milan, we'll be getting back to the reality of our league, which means we can expect a physical game. We`d also like to pick up these important points at home before going on our next road trip. We especially don`t want to lose again in front of our fans."

In 2009 against its Florida rivals, the Impact lost 2-1 in Miami on April 24, won 1-0 at Saputo Stadium on June 23 and played to a 1-1 draw in Florida on August 1.

In its last game, Miami fell 4-2 to the Islanders in Puerto Rico, Wednesday, in Bayamon. Miami has surrendered seven goals in its last two games. The club is in fifth place, good for second-to-last place in the NASL division standings, with only one win in eight matches this season.

"Just because Miami gave up seven goals in its last two games doesn't mean it will be the same thing against us and that it will be an easy game," said rookie forward Reda Agourram. "We know that we have to score some goals. I think we need to be more aggressive in the box and have that hunger to score. Scoring some goals on Sunday will give us some confidence for the games ahead."

Goalkeeper Matt Jordan will miss about two weeks of action due to a groin injury he suffered versus AC Milan. He will not play on Sunday and is not expected to accompany the team on its next two-game road trip to Minnesota and Tampa Bay.

Still hampered by an injury to a toe on his left foot, defender Stefano Pesoli is expected to miss Sunday's game. He's listed as day-to-day.

OTHER FACTS
- The Impact has a record of 5-1-5 (10GF-5GA) versus Miami FC, a team currently playing in its fifth season.
- Midfielder David Testo's next start will be his 100th in the league.
- Young Brazilian forward Paulo Araujo Jr. is Miami's top offensive player so far this season with 10 points (4 goals and 2 assists). That puts him in fourth place among all scorers in the USSF Second Division.

THE NEXT 3 MATCHES
- Wednesday, June 9 - IMPACT @ Minnesota - National Sports Center - 8 pm (nscminnesota.org)
- Saturday, June 12 - IMPACT @ Tampa Bay - G. Steinbrenner Stadium - 7 pm (fctampabay.com)
- Sunday, June 20 - Rochester @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 2 pm (radio- canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 5, 2010


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